Scaled vapor-to-liquid nucleation in a Lennard-Jones system.

Scaling of the homogenous vapor-to-liquid nucleation rate, J, is observed in a model Lennard-Jones (LJ) system. The model uses Monte Carlo simulation-generated small cluster growth to decay rate constant ratios and the kinetic steady-state nucleation rate formalism to determine J at four temperatures below the LJ critical temperature, T{c}. When plotted vs the scaled supersaturation, lnS/[T{c}/T-1]{3/2}, the values of logJ are found to collapse onto a single line. A similar scaling has been observed for the experimental nucleation rate data of water and toluene.

The impact of dietary advice on edentulous adults' denture satisfaction and oral health-related quality of life 6 months after intervention.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the impact of customised dietary advice on patients' satisfaction with their dentures and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patients wearing implant-supported mandibular overdentures (IOD) or conventional dentures (CD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, 28 IOD (two implant-retained mandibular overdenture) and 26 CD patients completed a denture satisfaction scale and the 20-item oral health impact profile (OHIP-20) before and 6 months following provision of customised dietary advice. RESULTS: At 6 months following provision of individualised dietary advice, the IOD group showed significantly greater satisfaction than the conventional group for denture comfort (80.6, + or - 15.6, vs. 68.7 + or - 15.6 P=0.001), stability (75.8 + or - 15.9 vs. 59.5 + or - 30.4, P=0.002), and perceived chewing ability (79 + or - 30.4 vs. 59.5 + or - 30.4, P=0.027) + or - when adjusted for baseline scores. Before delivery of the dietary advice there were no significant differences between groups for Satisfaction or OHIP scores. No difference in OHRQoL was seen between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The delivery of customised dietary advice to edentulous patients impacts differently on their satisfaction with denture comfort, stability and chewing ability depending on the nature of their prosthesis. This re-evaluation of satisfaction occurs when edentulous patients challenge themselves to consume more fruits, vegetables and fibre-rich foods. The IOD group reported an increased level of satisfaction and perceived chewing ability whereas it appeared that CD wearers may have had their awareness of the shortcomings of this sort of prosthesis reawakened.

A qualitative study on patient perspectives of how conventional and implant-supported dentures affect eating.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to obtain in-depth qualitative data from patients on the effect of edentulousness and prosthetic rehabilitation upon issues surrounding eating (emotional, social and functional). METHODS: 33 patients who had received replacement conventional dentures (CDs) and 33 patients who had received implant-supported mandibular overdentures (ISODs) were interviewed by a researcher outside the clinical team. Interviews focused upon their experience of edentulousness, its management and its impact on their lives. Interviews were transcribed and the qualitative data analysed using NVivo [QSR NVivo v.2.2. Melbourne: QSR International; 2002]. RESULTS: Both groups of patients told similar stories about the impact of edentulousness upon eating. A few patients who had received replacement CDs reported significant improvement, but marginal improvements were more common. Most patients who had received ISODs reported a significant positive impact upon eating with very few negative effects reported. The findings suggest that the functional limitations of dentures often impose social restrictions on edentulous patients. Optimising conventional dentures may help, but patients' eating-related quality of life is most likely to be enhanced through the functional improvement and increased social confidence that ISODs bring. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, issues surrounding eating are a major concern for edentulous patients. The main impacts of edentulousness are limitation of social participation and food choice. The functional improvement and increased social confidence that ISODs can provide, has a beneficial impact on this aspect of patients of quality of life.

Researching the impact of oral health on diet and nutritional status: methodological issues.

OBJECTIVES: Assessment of the impact of dental function on diet and nutritional status requires robust methodologies and a standardised approach to increase accuracy of results and to facilitate cross study comparisons. The objectives of this paper are: to report the outcomes of a consensus workshop that critically reviewed publications reporting on dietary methodologies in relation to the impact of oral health on nutrition; to highlight future directions for research and; to make recommendations for appropriate use of methodologies for future research. DATA: Data relevant to nutrition and dental status published from 1980 to 2005 in English were presented at the consensus workshop for discussion and appraisal. SOURCES: Relevant papers were retrieved through PubMed. Relevant texts were obtained from the library at Newcastle University, UK. STUDY SELECTION: A purposive sample of original articles that illustrated the application of a range of nutritional methodologies to the study of oral health impacts was identified. Original flagship texts on nutritional methodologies were reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: Numerous studies have shown an association between loss of teeth and inferior diet. Further research is required to elucidate the impact of novel approaches to prosthetic rehabilitation and the impact of contemporaneous dietary and dental intervention on diet, nutritional status, disease progression and quality of life. The recommendation of the consensus workshop was that future studies should adopt a comprehensive approach to the assessment of nutrition that encompasses measurement of diet, body composition, biochemical indices of intake and levels of nutrients, and functional biomarkers of disease.

Patient satisfaction following restoration of shortened mandibular dental arches in a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Removable partial dentures (RPD) used to restore the severely shortened mandible may adversely affect the remaining natural teeth and are associated with a low prevalence of use. This pilot study investigated patient satisfaction following restoration of mandibular shortened dental arches. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty subjects with mandibular shortened dental arches entered a randomized controlled trial comparing two types of mandibular prostheses: bilateral free-end saddle RPDs and distal cantilever resin-bonded fixed partial dentures (FPD). Patient satisfaction was assessed using self-administered questionnaires before (baseline), 3 months after, and 1 year after provision of new prostheses. RESULTS: Improvements in levels of general satisfaction with teeth, appearance of teeth, and perceived masticatory ability were significant for the FPD group. Significant improvements in perceived masticatory ability were noted for both groups. There were also significant improvements in perceived levels of comfort of mandibular prostheses in both groups. Changes in summary satisfaction scores indicated improved satisfaction for both treatment groups but suggested a larger clinical effect for the FPD group. Significant differences between treatment groups were not established. CONCLUSION: Patient-based outcomes reported suggested that resin-bonded cantilever FPDs are an effective means of restoring the shortened mandibular dental arch in terms of patient comfort and acceptance.